Join us for this grand opening celebration of the Forest Botanicals Storywalk Trail at Flag Rock Recreation Area, to be held the closing day of the High Knob Outdoor Fest in Norton, VA. The celebration will include two trail walks, plus forest farming demonstrations, giveaways, native plant sales, herbal arts and crafts, food, and more!

About the Storywalk:

The 2-mile Storywalk loop consists of 10 interpretive signs placed along the Twisted Forest and Lake Lake Show trails at Flag Rock Recreation Area. Each sign details a different aspect of Appalachian forest herbs, celebrating their cultural, historical, medicinal, and economic importance to a diversity of people, stretching from pre-colonization to today.

Celebration Location:

The main event will be held at the Shelter Trailhead picnic shelters at Flag Rock Recreation Area in Norton, VA. Parking is extremely limited here and reserved for vendors and musicians. Visitors should instead park at the Norton Reservoir Trailhead. A shuttle service will be available to take people to and from the Norton Reservoir Trailhead parking area (where the Storywalk Trail begins and ends and overflow parking is located) to the Shelter Trailhead picnic shelters (where vendors, live music jam, and food truck will be). Use this pin for directions to the Norton Reservoir trailhead parking lot: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZanUkAH486cu7zfs5

Guided Storywalk Trail Times:

• 2:30 pm at the Norton Reservoir Trailhead (shuttle leaves Shelter Trailhead parking area at 2:20 pm)
• 4:00 pm (shuttle leaves Shelter Trailhead parking area at 3:50 pm)

Guided Storywalk Trail – Starting Location:

• Each walk will begin and end at the Norton Reservoir Trailhead, starting with the Twisted Forest Trail at the Reservoir Trail and returning via Lake Lake Show. This 2-mile loop is a “novice” trail. Shuttle services will be available from the Shelter Trailhead.

Vendors

We are excited to welcome the following vendors to celebrate the treasure of biodiversity in the Appalachian forests through educational resources and herbal products, food, arts, crafts, and more!

• The Oak and Holly, Natural Healing
• Appalachian Sustainable Development 
• American Chestnut Foundation
• Pollinator Rare Plants 
• Creasy Jane’s Herbal Remedies 
• Rogers Metals
• Appalachian Teas & Botanicals 
• Mushy Stuff
• Madi Bop Shop 

Important Links:

• View the event on Facebook
• View the High Knob Outdoor Fest website
• More about the Forest Botanicals Region Living Monument project

Monument Partners

The Storywalk Trail is part of the up and coming Forest Botanicals Region Living Monument, which seeks to highlight the cultural, historical, ecological, and economic significance of the region’s abundant understory of native medicinal herbs and forest foods. Professors Shannon Bell and John Munsell from Virginia Tech are collaborating with Appalachian Sustainable Development, forest botanicals practitioners, members of the community, and the City of Norton, Virginia, to create this living monument and sanctuary at High Knob.